THE AIKIDO SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE

“What the great learning teaches, is to illustrate illustrious virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest excellence.

The point where to rest being known, the object of pursuit is then determined; and, that being determined, a calm unperturbedness may be attained to. To that calmness there will succeed a tranquil repose. In that repose, there may be careful deliberation, and that deliberation will be followed by the attainment of the desired end.

Things have their root and their branches. Affairs have their end and their beginning. To know what is first and what is last will lead near to what is taught in the Great Learning.”

Confucius, The Great Learning: 500 BCE

1. Determination: Knowing the ultimate goal (“where to rest”) provides focus and direction for one’s life. The training is the training.
2. Calmness & Repose: Once the goal is set, the mind becomes unperturbed and reaches a state of tranquil peace. This is direction, given action to focus.
3. Deliberation: In this quiet state, a person can engage in careful, clear-headed thinking and moral reflection. It is Shoshin, the mind of the beginner.
4. Attainment: Only through this disciplined focus and reflection can the “desired end” (highest excellence) be reached. This in Tanren, the forging process that discipline brings to the training.

The Aikido School of Excellence has been set up to explore Aikido as taught by its founder as a “true Budo”.

When O’Sensei spoke of love and world peace, it was always through this image from the great learning, and only through this lens can it truly be achieved – to that end, the school is focused entirely on the realisation of this through training the body/mind/spirit.

Set up by Peter Kelly 10th Dan as a way to study in depth the principles that underpin the techniques of Aikido in a martial context.

The school focuses on ukemi as an art to receive the teaching, rather than just falling or flipping. A strong emphasis on basic movement as interpreted through the action of the uke in relation to a body in motion.

A simplification of techniques to cause a focus shift from accumulation of waza to a search for the “perfection” in such waza.

A slow is smooth, smooth is fast attitude is emphasised to integrate these understandings into the body and change the mind maps responsible for movement. 

Creating a body of stone with which to create ascending and descending spirals.

The school forgoes accumulation of techniques as a measure of advancement, rather focusing on a principle based study of the self/body, the interaction(musubi) and its outcomes. Techniques are used as a vehicle to heighten understanding of principles rather than and end unto themselves.

As the International Chief Instructor of Aikido Yuishinkai for a decade, Peter has a strong emphasis on the development of the mind (Yuishinkai means the school of the essence of mind, Mujushin is no abiding mind), intent and consciousness as linked to physical movement created through interaction. 

Grading in the art are competency based, and are given in acknowledgement of understanding and ability in the art, rather than using time as a measure of ability.

Those who wish to further advance their understanding and ability in the art are encouraged to enter the Deshi program thats requires a set level of commitment that is acknowledged by exiting the Dan grading system and entering the ryuha grading system called the menkyo system. This system has been the traditional measure of martial competence since time immemorial for anyone that wanted to study Japanese traditional martial arts free of the constraints and limitations to mastery presented in a commercial modern system. If you feel you are that serious about your training please see the Mujushin ryu page for further advise.

SCHOOL OR DOJO REGISTRATION

To register your Aikido school or dojo with The Aikido School of Excellence, please fill out and submit the form below.